Adjustable trajectory spray nozzles

A fluid spray control device that produces a variety of fluid spray patterns comprising:

• a housing that forms an enclosed flow path interface between a pressurized fluid source and a flexible member comprising a disk containing a plurality of flexible flow channels aligned along a continuous, non-closing path, said flexible flow channels each having an inlet, a protruded cylindrical axis with a length which is greater than diameter, and an outlet thereby forming individual nozzles that extend beyond the distal surface of said disc;
• a manifold within said housing that supplies said fluid into said nozzles;
• a rigid support plate that supports and retains said flexible member with said manifold;
• a variable position deflecting member oriented to, and aligned with, said continuous non-closing path of said flexible flow channels that contacts some or all of said flexible flow channels to deflect the direction of said contacted flow channels as a unit, from an inward radial position to an outward radial position relative to a centerline of said device, thereby allowing a user to alter the angle of trajectory of said fluid in a continuous manner from a converging to diverging spray by rotating said deflecting member while said fluid is issuing from said nozzles;
• an alignment member that contacts said flexible flow channels and allows limited and specific deflection angles and position of said flexible flow channels;
• a lower support member that retains said alignment member, said deflecting member, said rigid support plate and said manifold with said housing;
• and,
• a spiral slot that bounds a lateral portion of at least a portion of said flexible flow channels of said plurality of flexible flow channels, whereby a rotation of said deflecting member changes the orientation of multiple said flow channels resulting in a change in pattern of said angle of trajectory of said fluid exiting said nozzles.

A method of producing a variety of fluid spray patterns that issue from a plurality of flexible nozzles comprising:

• introducing a fluid under pressure to a manifold that distributes said fluid to a flexible member;
• supporting and retaining said flexible member to said manifold with a rigid support plate;
• flowing said fluid through said plurality of flexible flow channels in said flexible member;
• producing a first fluid spray pattern of said fluid exiting said nozzles with said flexible flow channels aligned along a continuous, non-closing path, each having an inlet, a protruded cylindrical axis with a length which is greater than diameter, and an outlet thereby forming individual nozzles;
• contacting some or all of said flexible flow channels with a variable position deflecting member oriented to, and aligned with, said continuous non-closing path of said flexible flow channels;
• deflecting some or all of said flow channels from an inward radial position to an outward radial position relative to a centerline of said device, in a continuous manner from a converging to diverging spray by rotating said deflecting member while said fluid is issuing from said plurality of flexible nozzles;
• deflecting some or all of said flexible flow channels with said deflecting member on a base surface of said flexible flow channel.

A method of producing a variety of fluid spray patterns that issue from a plurality of flexible nozzles comprising:

• introducing a fluid under pressure to a manifold that distributes said fluid to a flexible member;
• supporting and retaining said flexible member to said manifold with a rigid support plate;
• flowing said fluid through said plurality of flexible flow channels in said flexible member;
• producing a first fluid spray pattern of said fluid exiting said nozzles with said flexible flow channels aligned along a continuous, non-closing path, each having an inlet, a protruded cylindrical axis with a length which is greater than diameter, and an outlet thereby forming individual nozzles;
• contacting some or all of said flexible flow channels with a variable position deflecting member oriented to, and aligned with, said continuous non-closing path of said flexible flow channels;
• deflecting some or all of said flow channels from an inward radial position to an outward radial position relative to a centerline of said device, in a continuous manner from a converging to diverging spray by rotating said deflecting member while said fluid is issuing from said plurality of flexible nozzles;
• and,
• rotating said deflecting member to engage and deflect some or all of said flexible flow channels with a spiral slot that bounds a lateral portion of at least a portion of said flexible flow channels of said plurality of flexible flow channels.